Enter more deeply into the Lenten season of purification and enlightenment through this one-day Encounter adult faith retreat, to be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, 2025, held at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon and led by cathedral rector Fr. Gerard Cooper.
Register online at: Jotform LINK or contact Adult Faith Coordinator Astrid Alas at (306) 659-5858 for more information.
Cost is $30 (includes lunch).
“Surrender” invites participants to embark on a profound Lenten journey of letting go and trusting in God’s will. This retreat focuses on the theme of surrender, encouraging attendees to release their burdens, fears, and doubts as they draw closer to the heart of Christ. Through powerful teachings, prayerful reflection, and worship, “Surrender” provides a sacred space for individuals to encounter God’s grace in a transformative way. This retreat offers an opportunity to deepen your faith, and prepare your heart for the joy of Easter.
National Catholic Health Care Week is marked Feb. 2 to 8 in Canada to raise awareness about the contributions and importance of Catholic health care.
( Post. updated on Feb. 7, 2025)
In the diocese of Saskatoon the week concludes with Bishop Mark Hagemoen celebrating the annual Compassionate Healers’ Massat9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon, with special prayers for all health care providers, professionals, volunteers, and caregivers.
Prayers for the sick will then be the focus of the World Day of the Sick Feb. 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The diocesan Compassionate Healers’ Mass with Bishop Hagemoen will be live-streamed at saskatoonmass.com beginning at 9 a.m. Feb. 9, 2025.
Everyone is welcome to the Compassionate Healers’ Mass, which is an initiative of the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) chassk.ca. This year’s celebration echoes the 2025 Jubilee Year by blessing and praying for the ministry of Catholic health care which is essential to the Church’s pilgrimage of hope. It also marks the culmination of National Catholic Health Care Week (Feb. 2 to 8) with its focus on care for creation.
National Catholic Health Care Week is a time to:
Honour the Legacy of Catholic Health Care
Catholic health care in Canada has a long history, dating back to the 17th century when religious communities founded hospitals and care homes.
This week recognizes the role of faith-based health care providers in serving the most vulnerable populations.
Raise Awareness of Catholic Health Values
Catholic health institutions operate with a mission to provide patient-centred, ethical, and spiritually sensitive care.
The week highlights values such as respect for life, social justice, and the dignity of every individual.
Recognize Healthcare Workers and Volunteers
National Catholic Health Care Week is an opportunity to celebrate the dedication of health care professionals, including doctors, nurses, chaplains, and volunteers who provide compassionate care.
Advocate for Social Justice and Equity in Health Care
Catholic health care providers often advocate for fair access to healthcare, support for marginalized communities, and ethical medical practices.
The week raises awareness of issues such as elder care, mental health, and palliative care from a faith-based perspective.
Engage Communities in Faith-Based Healing
Many Catholic hospitals and health organizations hold events, prayer services, and community outreach programs to promote holistic healing and spiritual support.
It’s a time to reflect on how faith and health care intersect in providing comfort and dignity to patients.
Support Ethical and Holistic Approaches to Medicine
Catholic health care institutions emphasize ethical decision-making in medicine, including respect for human life from conception to natural death.
Discussions during the week may focus on issues such as palliative care, medical ethics, and end-of-life care.
“Catholic Health Week in Canada is a vital observance that not only celebrates the contributions of Catholic health care organizations but also reinforces their commitment to compassionate, ethical, and faith-based care. It serves as a reminder of the integral role that Catholic institutions continue to play in shaping a health care system that prioritizes human dignity and social responsibility.” – Corey Miller, President & CEO of Emmanuel Health in Saskatchewan.
In addition, the week is intended to:
Amplify the shared mission of Catholic health care through a consistent, strong collective voice,
Showcase the role, value, and impact of Catholic health care in local communities and across the country,
Demonstrate that Catholic health care providers are people-centred, expert contributors to the health system,
Engage the public in conversation about Catholic health care.
National Catholic Health Care Week leads into The World Day of the Sick on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Feb. 11, a Catholic day of observance established by St. Pope John Paul II to encourage prayers and reflections for those who are ill and for all those who care for them.
Caring for our Common Home
(From the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada)
The 2025 theme of National Catholic Health Care Week celebrates the inter-connectedness of all creation and reflects on how our individual and collective actions and our systems—health, social, economic—can promote a healthy world where all can thrive.
The 2025 theme emphasizes the integral connection between human health and the health of the planet, echoing Pope Francis’ call to care for the earth as our common home (Laudato Si’).
The Catholic Health Alliance of Canadaworks with many partners—in the Catholic community, the health system and beyond—to contribute to and help shape an ever-evolving health system, drawing on our Catholic values, and a legacy of innovation and ethical reflection.
Catholic health is committed to environmental stewardship and conservation and actions to promote human flourishing. This week calls us to put the love at the heart of our ministry into action and inspires us to work towards environmental sustainability and human health and well-being in our homes, workplaces, communities and our world.
The Courageous Gift of Catholic Health Care
During National Catholic Health Care Week, the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada invites Canadians to reflect on and share the story of the courageous gift of Catholic health care (LINK).
Representing Catholic health organizations across Canada, the alliance is united in a 400-year healing mission and are inspired by a calling to care for all with compassion and humanity—body, mind and spirit. Catholic health care is driven to improve health care for all Canadians – especially those at greatest risk – as innovators, advocates and strong partners across the health care system.
This year, National Catholic Health Care Week celebrates the inter-connectedness of all creation and reflect on the integral connection between human health and the health of the planet.
“We are driven to make the world a better place, where everyone finds belonging, dignity and worth. In this, we reach out and take action with others to mend and bridge gaps, open doors and create the conditions for a society where all are seen and heard.” – Catholic Health Alliance of Canada
“When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.” – David Orr
“We are children of the earth: people to whom the outdoors is home. Nothing can separate us from the vigour and vibrancy of this inheritance.” – John O’Donahue
Several resources are available on the CHAC website (www.chac.ca) including:
In his message, Pope Francis offers a reflection on the theme, “‘Hope does not disappoint’ (Rm 5:5) but strengthens us in times of trial,” emphasizing the profound role the Christian tradition accords to the theological virtue of hope in moments of illness and suffering.
Pope Francis reminds the faithful that physical illness can have emotional and spiritual effects. The Holy Father calls for our renewed commitment to caring for the sick with love, compassion, and faith, recognizing that hope is a gift that sustains both those who suffer and those who accompany them.
Jesus earnestly calls us to visit and care for the sick (Matthew 25: 35), teaching us by example through His solicitude for the sick and His miracles to free men and women from sickness.
Inspired by our Lord, the Church desires the faithful to contribute to building a culture of care wherever we live—one that responds to the dignity of each person from conception to natural death, and that offers spiritual support in times of trial.
Established by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1992, the World Day of the Sick is observed annually on the liturgical Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, a significant day of devotion to the Blessed Mother, who is a powerful intercessor for the sick.
In a particular way on this day, the faithful are invited to reflect more deeply on the Church’s teachings about sickness and caring for the sick, as well as to express solidarity with the sick through works of charity and special prayers, including the option of attending Mass, and by encouraging and expressing appreciation toward caregivers.
CCCB resources for World Day of the Sick 2025 are available at LINK and include;
National Catholic Health Care Week is marked Feb. 2 to 8 in Canada to raise awareness about the contributions and importance of Catholic health care.
( Post. updated on Feb. 7, 2025)
In the diocese of Saskatoon the week concludes with Bishop Mark Hagemoen celebrating the annual Compassionate Healers’ Massat9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon, with special prayers for all health care providers, professionals, volunteers, and caregivers.
Prayers for the sick will then be the focus of the World Day of the Sick Feb. 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The diocesan Compassionate Healers’ Mass with Bishop Hagemoen will be live-streamed at saskatoonmass.com beginning at 9 a.m. Feb. 9, 2025.
Everyone is welcome to the Compassionate Healers’ Mass, which is an initiative of the Catholic Health Association of Saskatchewan (CHAS) chassk.ca. This year’s celebration echoes the 2025 Jubilee Year by blessing and praying for the ministry of Catholic health care which is essential to the Church’s pilgrimage of hope. It also marks the culmination of National Catholic Health Care Week (Feb. 2 to 8) with its focus on care for creation.
National Catholic Health Care Week is a time to:
Honour the Legacy of Catholic Health Care
Catholic health care in Canada has a long history, dating back to the 17th century when religious communities founded hospitals and care homes.
This week recognizes the role of faith-based health care providers in serving the most vulnerable populations.
Raise Awareness of Catholic Health Values
Catholic health institutions operate with a mission to provide patient-centred, ethical, and spiritually sensitive care.
The week highlights values such as respect for life, social justice, and the dignity of every individual.
Recognize Healthcare Workers and Volunteers
National Catholic Health Care Week is an opportunity to celebrate the dedication of health care professionals, including doctors, nurses, chaplains, and volunteers who provide compassionate care.
Advocate for Social Justice and Equity in Health Care
Catholic health care providers often advocate for fair access to healthcare, support for marginalized communities, and ethical medical practices.
The week raises awareness of issues such as elder care, mental health, and palliative care from a faith-based perspective.
Engage Communities in Faith-Based Healing
Many Catholic hospitals and health organizations hold events, prayer services, and community outreach programs to promote holistic healing and spiritual support.
It’s a time to reflect on how faith and health care intersect in providing comfort and dignity to patients.
Support Ethical and Holistic Approaches to Medicine
Catholic health care institutions emphasize ethical decision-making in medicine, including respect for human life from conception to natural death.
Discussions during the week may focus on issues such as palliative care, medical ethics, and end-of-life care.
“Catholic Health Week in Canada is a vital observance that not only celebrates the contributions of Catholic health care organizations but also reinforces their commitment to compassionate, ethical, and faith-based care. It serves as a reminder of the integral role that Catholic institutions continue to play in shaping a health care system that prioritizes human dignity and social responsibility.” – Corey Miller, President & CEO of Emmanuel Health in Saskatchewan.
In addition, the week is intended to:
Amplify the shared mission of Catholic health care through a consistent, strong collective voice,
Showcase the role, value, and impact of Catholic health care in local communities and across the country,
Demonstrate that Catholic health care providers are people-centred, expert contributors to the health system,
Engage the public in conversation about Catholic health care.
National Catholic Health Care Week leads into The World Day of the Sick on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Feb. 11, a Catholic day of observance established by St. Pope John Paul II to encourage prayers and reflections for those who are ill and for all those who care for them.
Caring for our Common Home
(From the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada)
The 2025 theme of National Catholic Health Care Week celebrates the inter-connectedness of all creation and reflects on how our individual and collective actions and our systems—health, social, economic—can promote a healthy world where all can thrive.
The 2025 theme emphasizes the integral connection between human health and the health of the planet, echoing Pope Francis’ call to care for the earth as our common home (Laudato Si’).
The Catholic Health Alliance of Canadaworks with many partners—in the Catholic community, the health system and beyond—to contribute to and help shape an ever-evolving health system, drawing on our Catholic values, and a legacy of innovation and ethical reflection.
Catholic health is committed to environmental stewardship and conservation and actions to promote human flourishing. This week calls us to put the love at the heart of our ministry into action and inspires us to work towards environmental sustainability and human health and well-being in our homes, workplaces, communities and our world.
The Courageous Gift of Catholic Health Care
During National Catholic Health Care Week, the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada invites Canadians to reflect on and share the story of the courageous gift of Catholic health care (LINK).
Representing Catholic health organizations across Canada, the alliance is united in a 400-year healing mission and are inspired by a calling to care for all with compassion and humanity—body, mind and spirit. Catholic health care is driven to improve health care for all Canadians – especially those at greatest risk – as innovators, advocates and strong partners across the health care system.
This year, National Catholic Health Care Week celebrates the inter-connectedness of all creation and reflect on the integral connection between human health and the health of the planet.
“We are driven to make the world a better place, where everyone finds belonging, dignity and worth. In this, we reach out and take action with others to mend and bridge gaps, open doors and create the conditions for a society where all are seen and heard.” – Catholic Health Alliance of Canada
“When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.” – David Orr
“We are children of the earth: people to whom the outdoors is home. Nothing can separate us from the vigour and vibrancy of this inheritance.” – John O’Donahue
Several resources are available on the CHAC website (www.chac.ca) including:
In his message, Pope Francis offers a reflection on the theme, “‘Hope does not disappoint’ (Rm 5:5) but strengthens us in times of trial,” emphasizing the profound role the Christian tradition accords to the theological virtue of hope in moments of illness and suffering.
Pope Francis reminds the faithful that physical illness can have emotional and spiritual effects. The Holy Father calls for our renewed commitment to caring for the sick with love, compassion, and faith, recognizing that hope is a gift that sustains both those who suffer and those who accompany them.
Jesus earnestly calls us to visit and care for the sick (Matthew 25: 35), teaching us by example through His solicitude for the sick and His miracles to free men and women from sickness.
Inspired by our Lord, the Church desires the faithful to contribute to building a culture of care wherever we live—one that responds to the dignity of each person from conception to natural death, and that offers spiritual support in times of trial.
Established by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1992, the World Day of the Sick is observed annually on the liturgical Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, a significant day of devotion to the Blessed Mother, who is a powerful intercessor for the sick.
In a particular way on this day, the faithful are invited to reflect more deeply on the Church’s teachings about sickness and caring for the sick, as well as to express solidarity with the sick through works of charity and special prayers, including the option of attending Mass, and by encouraging and expressing appreciation toward caregivers.
CCCB resources for World Day of the Sick 2025 are available at LINK and include;
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the XXIX World Day of Consecrated Life is marked on February 2, 2025.
Bishop Mark Hagemoen will celebrate Mass for the World Day of Consecrated Life at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon. The Mass will also be live-streamed at saskatoonmass.com.
It is with joy and hope for the Church and the world that I call us all to join in prayer and celebration on February 2, 2025 – the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. This day offers us the opportunity to reflect with gratitude on the remarkable reality and blessing of consecrated life in our world. Many men and women give witness to the deep joy that is found in living their baptismal promises by responding to Christ’s personal call to be signs of his saving love. Their lives are marked by publicly professing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a sign of the in-breaking Kingdom of God into our reality today.
The world of today asks, as heard in Psalm 24 which will be read in the Liturgy of the day: “Who is this king of glory?” As Christians, we are called to proclaim clearly with our lives, words and deeds: “It is the Lord!” We are also challenged to be like Simeon and Anna in the Gospel in recognizing the presence of the Lord in our everyday life and embracing His ways so that we may be faithful to our baptismal vows to the end.
On this occasion, I take this opportunity to greet and thank you all for your joyful, generous and unceasing service to the diocese. In a particular way, on this XXIX World Day of Consecrated Life, we pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life.
In our diocese, we are blessed by the presence of the consecrated life of men and women, religious sisters and lay consecrated. Consecrated life, continues to be a prophetic sign for today’s Church and for the whole of society. In a radical and courageous way, women and men who consecrate their lives entirely to Christ, living in religious houses or a lay context, show to the world a glimpse of the life of heaven to come and the joy of the vision of God. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God’s gift of their vocation.
I cordially invite all lay faithful, priests, deacons and consecrated men and women, to this universal celebration of the renewal of our baptismal vows through continual prayer and unconditional offering of our lives in service for the Kingdom.
On Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, at 11:00 am at Holy Family Cathedral, I will celebrate the Holy Mass in communion with all the parishes of our diocese. After the Eucharistic celebration, all are welcome to join for a moment of fraternal gathering in the hall of the Cathedral.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. Mark A. Hagemoen
Bishop Hagemoen’s homily for World Day of Consecrated Life / Presentation of Our Lord –
Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon each year declares the last Sunday of January as a day of prayer for Reverence for Life, coinciding with the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Morgentaler decision which removed all legal limits to abortion in Canada. Bishop Hagemoen will celebrate Mass on Reverence for Life Sunday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon.
Bishop’s Message for Reverence for Life Sunday, Jan. 26
By Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon
The Day of Prayer for Reverence for Life will be celebrated in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon on Sunday, January 26, 2025, providing our faith communities with an opportunity for prayers, reflection and discussion about the value of the precious gift of human life. I send this message on the day when we celebrate Saint Hilary, Doctor of the Church, who supported Saint Athanasius regarding the divinity of Christ during the time of the Arian controversy.
Our current times continue to feature terrible conflicts in many parts of the world, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. I continue to hear from many that our current world affairs highlight both the fragility and strength of human life. In these times of reflecting on the prayer of St. Francis, “Lord, make me a channel of your peace,” we continue to hear this prayer in terms of the care of the vulnerable, and especially with regards to the protection and care for the unborn, our elders, and critically ill in our communities.
1) An Uncaring and Utilitarian Culture Contributes to Sins Against Human Life
Canada continues to deal with the tragic repercussions of the removal of abortion from the Criminal Code. We now mark the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada decision in the Morgentaler case on January 28, 1988, which removed all remaining restrictions on abortion in Canada. Incredibly applauded by many in our society, this moment in our nation’s history holds within it the tragic reality of millions of lost lives.
Victims of abortion include the unborn children who are killed, but also the mothers, fathers and families left wounded after an abortion. The community is also weakened and damaged as the weakest and most vulnerable among us are not valued and protected.
Pope Francis ushered in this Jubilee New Year with a renewed appeal for all of God’s people to make a firm commitment to respect and protect human life, from conception to natural death. As he prayed in his January 1 homily:
“[May we learn to care for] every child born of a woman…[and to protect] the precious gift of life: life in the womb, the lives of children, the lives of the suffering, the poor, the elderly, the lonely and the dying.”
He continued: “I ask for a firm commitment to respect the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, so that each person may cherish his or her own life and all may look with hope to the future…” Let us continue to remember the Holy Father’s words quoted ni my previous letters, as the Canadian government continues to seek to expand access to doctor- assisted suicide, also known as Medical Aid in Dying or “MAID”:
“The victims of this [throwaway] culture are precisely the weakest and most fragile human beings -the unborn, the poorest, the sick and elderly, the seriously handicapped, etc. – who are in danger of being ‘thrown away’, expelled from a system that must be efficient at all costs.” (See: +Francis’ Address to a Delegation from the Dignitatus Humanae Institute, Dec. 7, 2013)
Perhaps this upcoming Jubilee Year of Hope can inspire the world to not only beg forgiveness for grave sins against our brothers and sisters of the world, but can also be a time of new-found Hope as we make concrete steps to repair the great damage of our uncaring.
II) How Can We Care for Creation While Supporting Abortion and Euthanasia?
Pope Francis continually highlights that respect for creation and respect for human life and human dignity are issues that are only realized together. As he states in his 2023 Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum:
“Everything is connected …no one is saved alone” (#19)
“To recognize. that human life is incomprehensible and unsustainable without other creatures. As part of the universe … all of us are linked by unseen bonds and together form a kind of universal family, a sublime communion which fills us with a sacred, affectionate and humble respect.” (#67) [Se: LaudatoDuem, October 4, 2023
The Gospel’s moral and social teaching calls on all people of good will to bring to bear intellectual, social, and political consciousness on the blatant inconsistency that is affecting the well-being and flourishing of human cultures through our world. This effort is at the service of every person on the planet! If we do not engage in calling each other to a greater and fuller humanity, we should then not be surprised at the larger deterioration of a culture of human care and respect.
III) Where is our HEART?
We no longer hear about scientific evidence – including the supporting fields of genetics and embryology – clearly showing the distinct humanity of each unborn child. Each young human person shares the fundamental human right to life that we as Canadians celebrate and support on so many other fronts.
Failing to recognize that right has left our country damaged – not only in the missing and lost lives of millions of unborn children – but also in removing “the heart” from our society. Many people today experience the loss of heart when they lose the sense of their own humanity when they no longer feel “useful” because of ill-health or aging. Persons who are older or are dealing with disabilities increasingly feel that they are a “problem” to their families and those on whom we rely for care.
The “loss of heart” is also the root cause of so many other evils in our midst, including: discrimination, injustice and racism, violence, poverty and hunger, debilitating addiction. Sisters and brothers, let us respond to loss of heart by holding steady to the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: the Sacred Heart for our world. I bring you this message on the memorial of Saint Hilary, Doctor of the Church – biblical scholar and theologian – dedicated his life and work to upholding the divinity of Christ, who comes to the world to bring His mercy, forgiveness, and healing to every human person.
As Pope Francis concluded in his New Year’s Day homily:
“May we learn to care for every child born of a woman, above all by protecting, like Mary, the precious gift of life: life in the womb, the lives of children, the lives of the suffering, the poor, the elderly, the lonely and the dying… All of us are invited to take up the summons that flows from the maternal heart of Mary: we are called to cherish life, to care for wounded lives — so many wounded lives, so many – to restore dignity to the lives of everyone” because it is the basis for building a culture of peace, he said, highlighting that the Feast of Mary, Mother of God also marks the World Day of Peace.
Sisters and Brothers, we pray that as a people and nation we may re- discover our heart!
Please join in praying that life will be respected at every age and stage, from conception to natural death.
“Nazareth” – painting by Michael O’Brien: used with permission on the Reverence for Life prayer card, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon
Prayer:
Almighty God, giver of all that is good,
we thank you for the precious gift of human life:
For life in the womb, coming from your creative power,
For the life of children, making us glad with their freshness and promise,
For the life of young people, hoping for a better world,
For the life of people who are disabled, teaching us that every life has value,
For the life of the elderly, witnessing to the ageless values of patience and wisdom.
Like Blessed Mary, may we always say “yes” to Your gift.
Help us to realize the sacredness of human life and to respect and cherish it from conception to its natural end.
And bring us at last, O Father, to the fullness of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
Prière
Dieu Tout-Puissant, donateur de tout ce qui est bon, nous te remercions pour le don précieux de la vie humaine:
Pour la vie dans le sein maternel, provenant de ton pouvoir créatif,
Pour la vie des enfants, nous rendant heureux de leur fraîcheur et de leur promesse,
Pour la vie des jeunes, espérant pour un monde formidable,
Pour la vie des personnes qui sont handicapées, nous apprenant que toute vie a de la valeur,
Pour la vie des personnes âgées, témoignant des valeurs intemporelles de patience et de sagesse.
Comme la bienheureuse Marie, puissions-nous toujours dire “oui” à Ton don.
Aide-nous à réaliser le caractère sacré de la vie humaine, à la respecter et à la chérir de la conception à sa fin naturelle.
Et amène-nous enfin, ô Père, à la plénitude de la vie éternelle en Jésus-Christ notre Seigneur. AMEN
Prayers for the launch of Jubilee 2025 were offered in dioceses across the world on the Feast of the Holy Family, including in Saskatoon, where Bishop Mark Hagemoen inaugurated the year-long spiritual pilgrimage during celebration of the Eucharist Dec. 28 at Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon.
Bishop Mark Hagemoen presided at the rite of opening of the Jubilee Year Dec. 28 at Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon. The rite was also celebrated at both the Cathedral of the Holy Family and St. Paul Co-Cathedral Dec. 29, led by cathedral rectors, Fr. Gerard Cooper and Fr. Stefano Penna, respectively. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon, News)
In a gathering at the entrance of the church at the start of Mass, Bishop Hagemoen proclaimed: “In fellowship with the universal Church, as we celebrate the love of the Father that reveals itself in the flesh of the Word made man and in the sign of the cross, anchor of salvation, we solemnly open the Jubilee Year for the Church of the diocese of Saskatoon.”
The bishop continued: “This rite is for us the prelude to a rich experience of grace and mercy; we are ready always to respond to whoever asks the reason for the hope that is in us, especially in this time of war and disorder. May Christ, our peace and our hope, be our companion on the journey in this year of grace and consolation. May the Holy Spirit, who today begins this work both in us and with us, bring it to completion in the day of Christ Jesus.”
The proclamation was followed by scripture and prayers, reading of excerpts from the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year, veneration of the processional cross, the blessing of holy water at the baptismal font, and a procession into the sanctuary for the beginning of Mass, including the singing of the official Jubilee 2025 hymn.
The rite was also celebrated at both the Cathedral of the Holy Family and St. Paul Co-Cathedral on Sunday, Dec. 29, led respectively by the cathedral rectors, Fr. Gerard Cooper and Fr. Stefano Penna.
Homily
In his homily at Holy Spirit Church, Bishop Mark Hagemoen described how a Jubilee Year is traditionally celebrated every 25 years by the Church, and reflected on Pope Francis’ declaration of the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The Holy Father is extremely concerned about obstacles to hope in our time, Hagemoen noted. “Not just obstacles that are theoretical – real obstacles. There are too many wars in the world… the majority of people on the planet Earth are dealing with some sort of significant conflict, or major inadequacy to their thriving as human beings.”
The bishop quoted Pope Francis’ call to the faithful to be Pilgrims of Hope: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.”
The Holy Father also said with the opening of one of the Holy Doors in Rome: “Each of us is called to enter into the mystery of God’s great grace. This is a time when the door of hope has opened wide on the world. This is a time when God says to each one: ‘There is hope – to you and for you.'”
Hagemoen continued, quoting Pope Francis: “The Jubilee Year should be a time of every individual, and all peoples and all nations to become together as Pilgrims of Hope, to silence the sounds of arms , and overcome divisions.”
This is a hope firmly grounded in our Saviour Jesus Christ and our faith, stressed Hagemeon, and is not a “pipe dream.”
“This is the One who gives His life absolutely, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, when He did not have to — because every human person is dearly loved and He goes all the way in dealing with any obstacle that comes between us and God. Indeed the genius of our Catholic Christian faith finds its source and summit in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
The Feast of the Holy Family is an “amazing time to celebrate the Jubilee Year,” the bishop added. “Let us be thankful for our families, the first place where we learn about out humanity.”
Pilgrimage
In practical terms, the Jubilee Year goes for the whole year, and will include opportunities for spiritual growth and nourishment. “In the diocese of Saskatoon I am pleased to announce that we have a special time of pilgrimage, of opportunity to visit holy places, and to reflect on acting like the Lord, putting on Christ in our love and service to others, through the works of mercy and penance.”
Highlights include pilgrimages — “every one of us is on a pilgrimage journey,” noted Hagemoen, regardless of our ability to physically travel.
However, this will be a year with a particular focus on making pilgrimage visits to local sacred sites within the boundaries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, which include the diocesan cathedrals and St. Peter’s Abbey at Muenster.
“We are also very blessed within the diocese of Saskatoon to actually have historical pilgrimage sites… the schedules will be known in the coming moths,” he said, listing the annual pilgrimages to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine west of Humboldt, to Holy Rosary Shrine at Reward, to Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine and Sts. Peter and Paul Church at Blumenfeld, to St. Anthony Church at Grosswerder, and to the eparchial shrines of Our Lady of Sorrows near Cudworth, and the Millennium Pro-Life Crossnear Aberdeen. In addition, there are other annual pilgrimages to nearby sacred sites in the diocese of Prince Albert including the shrine at St. Laurent, and in the archdiocese of Regina, including the shrine at Rama.
Works of mercy and penance
“I conclude (by) reflecting on the works of mercy and penance,” Hagemoen said. “These are exercises and disciplines that come from the Church’s teaching, about how we are called to imitate the Lord in the little things: feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, burying the dead, giving counsel to those who are doubtful or anxious, comfort to the afflicted, visiting those who are dealing with incarceration, or who are very limited in their movement, clothing the naked, praying for th living and the dead, bearing patiently with those who do us ill. I am sure on that list there are some that jump to mind right away!”
He also noted the special teaching on the availability of the mercy of Indulgence, sharing the words of Pope Francis about this spiritual teaching from the Jubilee of Mercy in 2015.
“Pope Francis underlined how the Indulgence acquired ‘an even more important meaning’ in that context, since God’s mercy becomes the indulgence on the part of the Father who, through the Bride of Christ, his Church, reaches and blesses sinners and frees them from every residue left by sin. Similarly, Pope Francis now declares that the gift of indulgences as a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God’s mercy,” said Hagemoen.
He continued, quoting Pope Francis: “Not by chance, for the ancients, the terms ‘mercy’ and ‘indulgence’
were interchangeable, as expressions of the fullness of God’s forgiveness, which knows no bounds.” The Holy Father concludes: “The Indulgence, therefore, is a Jubilee grace.”
“So our exercises of visiting holy sites, the works of mercy, and also taking advantage of opportunities for penance… is an opportunity to experience and receive the Jubilee grace of God’s mercy,” said Hagemoen, thanking the rectors of the cathedral and pastors at all parishes in the diocese for participating in the launch of the Jubilee Year.
Video of opening rite and bishop’s homily:
Photos:
Preparing for the celebration. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon, News)
The rite of opening of the Jubilee Year began at the entrance of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon, News)
Bishop Mark Hagemoen presided at the rite of opening of the Jubilee Year Dec. 28 at Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon, News)
Reading of the Papal Bull of Indiction for Jubilee 2025. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Bishop Hagemoen leads the opening rite for the Jubilee Year during the Dec. 28 celebration of the Eucharist at Holy Spirit Church in Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Bishop Hagemoen venerates the cross before leading the assembly into the sanctuary for celebration of Mass. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Blessing the waters of the baptismal font before the penitential sprinkling rite. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Processing into the sanctuary as part of the opening rite for the Jubilee 2025 Year of Hope. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, Bishop Mark Hagemoen will celebrate a special Mass for the World Day of Youth at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, starting with a procession with the Diocesan World Youth Day Cross, with Mass followed by testimonies by young adults and a social gathering.
Everyone is welcome, with a special invitation to young adults 18 to 35 years to come and “Rejoice in Hope!” (Youth Ministry and Vocations are supported by gifts to the BAA.)
The Solemnity of Christ the King, which concludes the Church Year, has been designated as a World Youth Day celebration in dioceses around the world.
Pope Francis writes about the World Day of Youth: “Last year we set out on the path of hope towards the Great Jubilee by reflecting on Saint Paul’s words, “Rejoice in hope” (Rom 12:12). In order to prepare ourselves for the Jubilee pilgrimage of 2025, this year we can take inspiration from the prophet Isaiah, who says: “Those who hope in the Lord… will run and not be weary” (Is 40:31).”
Red Wednesday is an international day of prayer, action, and awareness about the persecution of Christians around the world. In Saskatoon, a one-hour ecumenical prayer service will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 114 Kingsmere Place, Saskatoon.
Local Christian leaders will be present to pray and reflect during the service, which will be followed by refreshments. Everyone is welcome. The event is co-hosted with Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church.
If you have questions, please contact Myron Rogal in the Diocesan Office of Justice and Peace at mrogal@rcdos.ca or (306) 659-5841.
Background: Be RED, Wear RED, Light RED:
Holy Covenant Evangelical Orthodox Church in Saskatoon was bathed in red light last year on Red Wednesday, 2023. This year’s Saskatoon ecumenical service will be held at 5:30 pm Red Wednesday, Nov. 20 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Saskatoon. All are welcome to take this opportunity to learn more and to pray for persecuted Christians across the globe. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
With the establishment of Red Wednesday, the international Catholic aid organization Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has drawn attention to the fate of millions of persecuted, oppressed, and threatened Christians worldwide.
Since Red Wednesday was established, in many countries around the world, cathedrals, churches, monasteries, monuments, and public buildings are illuminated in blood red around this day.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) supports over 5,000 projects every year in around 140 countries, helping Christians to live their faith in situations where they are oppressed or lack the necessary means to cover their pastoral needs.
“Jesus calls each of us to be a beacon of light for the world, urging us not to turn away from others in an attitude of indifference, and allow our light to illumine and support others.” – Bishop Mark Hagemoen
The 2024 Bishop’s Annual Appeal is underway across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, with Bishop Mark Hagemoen recently announcing the 2024 theme: “On the Pilgrimage of Hope.”
Find more information and online giving on the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation website: dscf.ca/baa/
“This year’s Bishop’s Annual Appeal theme draws inspiration from the parables used by Jesus to illustrate the Kingdom of God through everyday examples. The message is clear: ‘We are to be the Light for one another.’
“Jesus calls each of us to be a beacon of light for the world, urging us not to turn away from others in an attitude of indifference, and allow our light to illumine and support others.
“I am pleased to reveal that this year’s theme for the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is ‘On the Pilgrimage of Hope.’ As Psalm 65 states: ‘O God of our salvation; You are the hope of all the ends of the earth.’
“Recently, Pope Francis declared the 2025 Jubilee Year with the message, ‘Pilgrims of Hope: Hope does not disappoint.’
“The Pope is relentless – some might say even ‘stubborn’ – with insisting on the priority of Hope. As he states: ‘Everyone knows what it is to hope… in the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt.’
“Pope Francis goes on to state that when we encounter discouragement, pessimism and cynicism, God continues to offer us as vision of a new future, that builds on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ahead of this Jubilee Year we embark on a ‘Year of Prayer,’ where we are encouraged to celebrate and deepen our faith in God and apply the virtue of hope to the ways in which we view and respond to the circumstances of our lives.
“Through the various ministries supported by the Bishops Annual Appeal, the faithful of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon bring hope to others. We visit the sick in hospitals, teach catechism to our children and young people, and provide pastoral care to the hospitalized and sick. We also provide reconciliation and healing to those in prison. We are supporting and training new priests and deacons to lead us, fostering faith growth through youth and adult ministries. We continue to invite lay adults into the Catholic faith, as well as support and train adult leaders for ministry and service.
“The success of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal relies on each of us recognizing the abundance we have received, and sharing generously. I encourage you to contemplate the significance of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and to consider contributing, according to your means.
“For those who are new to supporting the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, please consider supporting. The key to our success is less about people giving more. It is really about more people giving.
“Thank you for your consideration of this year’s appeal as we embark on this Pilgrimage Year of HOPE!”
Sincerely in our One God,
Most Reverend Bishop Mark A. Hagemoen
Diocese of Saskatoon
Developing Disciples of Christ: Understanding the Critical Relationship Between Catechesis and Evangelization is the theme of the diocesan Fall Congress day of enrichment and inspiration open to everyone – to be held Wed., Oct. 16 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon.
Prairie pilgrimages are held each year, with the faithful celebrating at sites throughout the province, including several in and around the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Priests available for confessions at the Grotto
6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Rosary / bouquet offering at the Grotto (everyone is welcome to bring a rose for Mary, or available at the Candle Booth for $2 each on a first-come, first-serve basis
7:00 p.m. – Celebration of the Eucharist with Bishop Stephen Hero, Priests, and Deacons at the Grotto
8:00 p.m. – Birthday cake and coffee at the Food Booth
Donations to Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine greatly appreciated.
Pilgrimage to Millennium Pro-Life Cross – Sept. 8, 2024
The Millennium Pro-Life Cross is located 10.8 km northeast of Aberdeen on Highway 41.
The 22nd annual pilgrimage begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, with a living rosary and other prayers. Keynote speaker is Most Rev. Bishop Michael Smolinski, CsSR, of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon. Fellowship and food to follow. (Bring your own rosary and lawn chair or umbrella.)
More information, including any changes because of inclement weather can be found at: www.saintmarysyorkton.com/ProlifeMillenniumCross or the Millennium Pro-Life Cross page on Facebook. (Sponsored by the Millennium Cross Foundation, in partnership with the Knights of Columbus and the Eparchy of Saskatoon).
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